Automatic valve



Feb. 6, 1945. HAUSER 2,368,832

AUTOMAT I C VALVE I Filed April 8, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Feb. 6, 1945. HAUSER 2,368,832

AUTOMAT I C VALVE Filed April 8, 1942 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Feb. 6, 1945. F. HAUSER AUTOMATIC VALVE Filed April 8, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 wm m f in i ME mmh m Q w v N I L I. .1 O

Feb. 6, 1945. F. HAUSER AUTOMATIC VALVE Filed April 8, 1942 5 sheets .s 4

Feb. 6, H S

AUTOMATIC VALVE Filed April 8, 1942 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES "PAT ENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC VALVE Fred Hauser, Los'Angeles, Calif. Application April 8, 1942, Serial No. 438,085

9 Claims. (01. 137-145) -g1'5ups of sprinkler nozzles, each group being connected to a branch pipe leading to the water 'main. The number and sizes of these nozzles in any one group depends upon the size of the water main and the hydrostatic pressure available. These groups are usually operated in sequence, there being never more than one group in operation at anyone time. In the accompanying drawings four-such groups are indicated, all four being connected to a central distributor valve.

sprinkling systems control head showing its mechanism in the esi- 7 tion it occupies at the end of a dwell period.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross section taken along the plane 9-2-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal cross section taken along the plane l0-l0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal cross section the plane H-ll of Fig.

, Fig. 12 is a vertical cross section the plane l2-l2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a vertical cross section through 2.

taken along taken along modified form of a timing device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combination of elements whereby the time periods 'during which the sprinkler nozzles are in operation may be selectively chosen and pre-set by operating simple dials.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved distributor valve operated by the hydraulic pressure of the fluid which passes through it.

Other objects of this invention and theadvantages thereof will be apparent 'from the following description of an'illustrative embodiment of the invention. Reference will be made to the appended drawings, in which:

Fig.- 1 is a vertical cross section through the control head an'd the main shut-ofi valve. A branch-pipe on which is mounted a sprinkler novzle is also indicated.

Fig. 14 is a plane view of a modified form of a timing device taken along the plane l4-ll of Fig. 13. .Fig. 15 is a horizontal cross section taken along the plane |5l5 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a horizontal section taken plane l6-'|6'of Fig. 13.

Fig. 17 is a horizontal section taken along the plane Il-I'! of Fig. 13.

Fig. 18 is a horizontal section plane l8-l8 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 19 is a vertical cross section through .a modifiedform of a main shut-off valve and part of a modified--upper compartment of the control head. i

along the taken along the Fig. 20 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of v the. leak screw and associated part situated in the top of the larger piston of the shut-off valve. Referring to the drawings. I have illustrated my improved automatic sprinkling system in general form in Fig. 1. Water, from the'water main I, enters the main shut-off valve 2 which is at tached to the control head 3. One of several branchpipes- 4 is shownleading from the bot- ;Fi-g. 2 is a plan view ofthe control head taken along the plane 22 of Fig. I

' Fig. 3 is a section through the pilot valve located in the upper compartment of the control head, taken along the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section through the upper .compart ment of the control head, 4-4 of Fig. 2. r

Fig. 5 is a section through the control head showing the starting lever and its-associated parts in the position'they occupy after the sprinkling operation has been manually initiated. Fig. 6 is a' ertical'section taken along the plane 66 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a vertical cross seetionthrough the control head showing'its mechanism in the posiltion it occupies at the end of a sprinkling period. Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section'through the taken along the plane tom of the control head 3 to a group ofsprinkler nozzles, one of which is illustratedat 5. A tubing 6 connects the main I with the upper portion of the control head 3 and a tubing l leads from there to the main shut-oil valve 2. w

The control head 3 consists of three compartments. The upper compartment indicated at 8 contains thepilot'or control valve 9 (Fig. 3) and the mechanism controlling'its function. IZhe central compartment I0 contains the main float H, and the lower compartment l2 contains the distributor valve.

The distributor valve consists of the valvehousing I 3 and the valve cover H. The valvehousing I3 is provided with an inlet l5 .and a number of outlets I 6 (Figs. 1 and 9). In communication. with the outlets l6 are the ports I l.

. spaced equally around the'bore I 8 located at the 24 at all times.

. trol valve 9 (Fi 3).

with thebore l8 there is formed in the valve cover 14 a second bore 28 terminating at the shoulder 2| and then continuing at reduced size to form the spring chamber ,22 containing the actuating spring 22'. The indexing shaft 23 is freely held in the bore l8. The lowerend of the indexing shaft 23 is provided with a groove 24 consisting of a helical portion 25 and a straight portion 26. A pin 21 (Fig. 9) engages the groove n the upper end of the indexing'shaft 23 is mounted a cup leather or piston 28, and a short distance below it a stop pin 29 is securely pressed into said shaft. The middle section of the indexing shaft 23 has milled into it a series of longitudinal ratchet teeth 38, there being an equal number of ratchet teeth as there are I and a fitting 63.

with the tubing 1 by means of an axial bore 62 The valve member 55 comprises a cylindrical body, provided on both ends with recesses in which are inserted the discs 64 made of non-metallic material, such as rubber.

J An actuating stem 65 is concentrically mounted ports Loosely mounted on the ratchet shaft .1

23 is the valve-disc-holder 3| to which is secured the valve disk 32. This valve disc is made of a non-metallic material as, for instance, rubber. It is of circular shape and is provided with one orifice or opening 33 (Figs. 1 and 10) corresponding in size and location to one of the ports I1 positioned directly below it. The other areas of proiection 35 there is located a second shorter projection 35', a plan view of which is shown in Fig. 11.

A check valve 37 containing a ball 38 connects thevalve chamber l9 with the float chamber 39. A pin keeps the ball 38 in proper position within the check valve 31.

The float chamber 39 is formed by the cylinder 4| which is secured to the. valve cover l4, preferably by soldering.

Attached to .the too of the cylinder 4| by means of the screws 42 is the housing 43 provided with thecover 44. A hub45 is formed in the center of the housing 43 and is provided with a large bore 46 and a smaller bore 41. Within the bore .41 there is mounted loosely the operat-,.

ing stem 48 which extends into the float chamber 39.

A float is placed inside the float chamber 39 in such a manner that it can move up and down freely when water enters the chamber 39 i and reaches a height insam'e to cause the float to permit the float I to slide up and down freely on the o erating stem '48, the pin 52 representing the highest position the float may occupy in relation to the stem 48;-

In the housing 43-is located the pilot or con- The latter cons sts of the vertical bore 53, the screw 54 and the valve member 55. At the up er end of thebore 53 is formed the valve seat 56 around the bleeder port 59. This'latter port is connected with the tubing 6 by means of a transverse inlet 60 and the fitting 6 The. bore 53 is alsoin communication fastened to the operating lever 13 at 14.

in the valve member 55, preferably by soldering, and extends into the port 59 and through the port 51. This actuating stem 65 is considerably smaller in diameter than are either ports 56 or 59, thereby permitting water to flow through these ports around the stem 65. The upper end of theactuating stem 65 is securely held in the rocker arm 66 by means of the screw 61.

Fig. 6 illustrates the manner by which the rocker arm 66 is mounted in the housing 43. The axle 68 is held stationary by the retaining screw 69, and the rocker arm 66may rock freely on the axle 68, being retained on same by the washer 10. A coil spring H is attached to the arm at 12; the other end of thespring being The spring H is at all times under tension. The'rocker arm 66 is also provided with anextension 15 (Fig. 4) which engages the looped rod l6 (Fig. 12) of the control float 11, the looped rod 16 being secured (to the control float by soldering at 18. The lower portions 19 0f the'rod 16 also serve to guide the float inits up and down movement by reason of their sliding fit in the bores drilled into an embossed portion 8| extend-- ing from the bottom of the housing 43.

Directly opposite the roclzer arm 66 and mounted on an axle 82, which is concentric with the axle 6 8, is the operating lever 13. It, too, may rock freely, similar to the rocker arm 66. A hook-shaped extension 83 of the lever 13 (Fig. 1). carries at its extremity a link 84 which is also fastened to the operating stem 48. The operating lever 13 protrudes through the cover 44 at the elongated opening. 86.

Water that may at times partially flll the housing 43 is being released slowly into the float chamber 39 through the bore 81 and the needle or timing valve 88 (Fig. 12) which is positioned in the bottom of the housing 43. The needle valve stem 89 is mounted by means of the thread 96 in the cylindrical boss 9| and also protrudes through the cover 44, where it is provided with a dial 92. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of this dial. A series of figures 93 and lines 94 cast on the top surface of the cover 44 indicate indirectly the amount of opening of the needle or timing valve 88. Actually the figures represent the number of minutes required for water contained in the housin 43 to flow through the needle or timing valve 88 and to fill the float chamber 39 to a height at which the float contactsthe pin 52 and elevates the operating stem 48 to a point where it will rock the operating lever 13 into a position illustrated in Fig. 7. I This time interval represents the period during which one of the groups of sprinkler nozzles is in operation. The position of the dial 92 in Fig. 2 would; for example, indicate a sprinkling period of 10 minutes. If the thread 98 is a right hand thread, a rotation of the dial 92 in clock-wise direction would result in reducing the opening in the needle valve 88 through which the water may flow. This would produce an increased sprinklingperiod.

-The main shut-off valve 2 (Fig. 1) is simply illustrative of one form of valve which may be employed, it being understood that other similar types of valves may be used. Generally statpressure hydraulic type and includes a valve member 95 provided at its center portion with a small piston including the cup leather 98 and at its upper, portion with a larger piston'including the cup leather 91. The tubing 1 is'connected to the chamber 98. The main valve body is provided with a pressure inlet at 99 and an outlet at I00.

Normally when the sprinkling system is not in operation, the positions of the various mov-, ing parts within the control head 3 and the main shut-off valve 2 areas shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Pressure fluid from the main l is supplied through the tubing 5 to the bore 53 of the pilot valve 9 (Fig. 3) and from there through the tubing 1 to the chamber 98 of the main. shutofl valve 2.- Such pressure fluid acting upon the large piston ill-presses the valve member 95 tightly against its valve seat, thereby cutting oil the supply of pressure fluid viromthe valve inlet 99 to the valve outlet I00 and consequently to the valve chamber l9. The bleeder port 51 of the pilot valve is kept 'sealed due to the action of the spring ll (Fig. 3) on the rocker arm 6' I This spring II tends to rotate the rocker arm 65 in a d rection shown by the arrow. therebv pul ing the actuating stem 65 upward and effecting a water-tight seal between the bleeder port 51 and the disc 64 inserted in the upper end of the valve member 55. This position of the rocke arm 58 and the valve member 55 m intained all during the Period the not in operation.

The sprinkling operationis instituted by-t'ne operator by. moving the operating lever 13 from its rest or"oif position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the starting or on position as shown in Fig 5. In so doing, the spring H, one-end of which is fastenedto the lower extension of the lever 13, is being moved to-the right of the axis around which the rocker arm 66 oscillates, and rotates same in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5. The amount of this rotation is governed by the extension 15 as it contacts the loopedrod 78 of the float 11. The size and weight of the float TI is selected in such a manner'that it will overcome the rotating action of the spring H and hold the rocker arm 66 and the valve member 55 in a position as shown in Fig. 4. In this position a small opening is left between the pressure port 59 and the lower disc 68 of the valve member 55. Pressure fluid from the chamber 98 of the main shut-01f valve 2 is now released through the bleeder port 51 and empties into thev housing 83. Such release of pressure causes the valve member 95 to rise andpermits the pressure fluid from the main l to pass from the valve inlet 99 to the valve outlet I 88 into the chamber l9 of the distributpr valve l3, and from there through the orifice 33 and the port I! into the branch pipe I and finally into the sprinkler nozzles 5. This marks the beginning .of the sprinkling operation. The pressure in the valve chamber l9 alsoforces upward the piston-28 and the indexin shaft23 attached to it, until stopped by the shoulder 2|: The spring 32' is thereby compressed (Fig. 7).1-In its upward travel. the in- 'dexing shaft 2:4; guided radiallybythe pm'n (Fig. QS- engag'ing the groove 2l.-

the flrst part of ,the upward travel, corresponding, to the straight portion 26 of the-groove 24; the indexing shaft 23 travels only axially, that is, no rotation takes place. In the second part; of its upward travel, however, the indexing shaft rotates upward and seals the passage to thefloat chamas well, and in a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 10. This rotation is caused by the helical portion 25 of the groove 24. But the valve disc 32, and the valve-discholder 8| are held stationary by the pressure of the water upon the disc. Consequently the tooth 39 which had been engaging the leaf spring 38 previous to the beginning of the upward travel is now leaving same and upon termination of the upward travel, the succeeding tooth will engage the leaf spring 36. Also, the ball 38 is forced her 39 (Fig. 7)

'The pressure fluid entering the housing 43 from the chamber 98 of the main shut-off valve 2. and additional pressure fluid coming from the main I and passing through the tubing 8 andthrough the small opening left between the pressure port 59 and the valve member 55, is passing out of said housing through the needle valve .88 into the float chamber 39. But the rate at which the pressure fluid enters the sprinkling system is I housing 43 is faster than it can leave same through the needle valve 88, therefore causing the water level to rise. At a given height of the water-level the control float 11 becomes buoyant and rises (Fig. 12). This disengages the looped rod 15 from the extension 15 and permits the spring ii to rotate further the rocker arm 66 in a direction as indicated by the .arrow in Fig. 4, until the valve member comes to rest on the pressure port 59, sealing same.

As the water level in the housing 53 drops below a given height the weight of the float ll again opens the pressure port 59 and permits more pressure fluid to enter said housing.

The water thus accumulated in the housing 43 slowly passes through the needle valve 88 into the float chamber 39. The water levelin the .float chambergradually rises, the main float ll stem 48. This stem, being connected to' the operating lever 13, causes the latter to revolve partially around its axle 82 (Fig. '7), swinging the spring H to the left past the center around which the rocker arm 65 oscillates. In so moving past thev above mentioned center, the spring 1i will reach a position as shown in Fig. 7, at which position the spring causes the rocker arm 65 to snap suddenly into a position held previous tothe initiating of the sprinkling operation and illustrated' in Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 3 also shows the position of the valve member 55 resulting from the above-mentioned new position of the rocker arm. The bleeder port 51 is now closed'a'nd the pressure port 53 is open. The pressure fluid from the main I may now again reach the chamber 98 of the main shut-oh valve '2 and force the piston 91 downward, closing the valve and cutting off the supply of pressure fluid to thevalve chamber I9 and the branch pipes, 4. As thepressure in the chamber l9 drops, the spring 22', which had previously been compressed, forces downward the piston 28 and theindexing shaft 23. hits downward movement, the, indexingshaft goes through the motion. opposite to the one previe ously described when it moved pward. But this time the tooth 3!! which engag s the leaf spring 86- (Fig. 10) causes the valv'e-disc-holder 3| and{ the valve'disc' 32 to rotate with it. As the piston 28 reaches its lowermost position as illustrated in Fig. 8, the orifice 33 of the valve disc 32 comes through one of the branch pipes 4.

This terminates the first sprinkling cycle. It is apparent that, as the water level drops,

'the float II descends in the float chamber 39.

Before the float reaches its lowermost position, it contacts the screw 5| of the operating stem 48, carrying same downward and simultaneously tilting the operating lever I3 into the starting or on" position as shown in Fig. 8.

This initiates the'second sprinkling period, but this time the water enters another branch pipe 4, or more explicitly stated, it enters the branch pipe 4 which is connected to the port II whichis at that time uncovered by the valve disc 32.

This above-described procedure automatically repeats itself until the last branch pipe 4 is supplied with pressure fluid; and finally the pressure fluid is cut off from same. As the 'fioat descends the last time it may not reach the lowermost po-- sition as it did in previous times, but instead it comes to rest considerably above it, and is held there by the top of the indexing shaft 23, which also occupies a position higher than in previous cycles. This new, higher position of the indexing shaft 23 is brought about by the stop pin 29 coming to rest on top of the projection 35' of the valve-disc-holder 3| as shown in Figs. 1 and 11.

At' this position the operating stem 48 is not pulled down far enough by the float II to snap the rocker arm 66 into a position which may open the main shut-off valve 2; on the contrary, the rocker arm, the pilot valve, and the main shut-oil Valve maintain the positions as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

one of the groups of sprinkler nozzles may be in a shaded area, and may therefore require less water. Another portion, controlled by another group of sprinkler nozzles, may be situated on a sloping area where the water runs 011 quicklyand may consequently require more water than a level portion.

The modified construction illustrates a device in which there are provided as many dials to control the duration of the sprinkling periods as there are groups of sprinkler nozzles. Each group may therefore be adjusted to a sprinkling period best suited to the conditions.

The operating stem 40' is provided at its upper end with an indexing cylinder IOI held axially in position by the two collars I02 and I03, but permitted to rotate freelyon the stem 48'. An

indexing sleeve I04, fitting freely over the cylinder IOI and also in the bore I05 of the housing 43' is held axially in a permanent position by means of thedog screw I 06 (Fig. 16) engaging the circular groove IN. A similar .dog screw I08 (Fig. 15) engages the helical groove I09 cut in the outer surface of the indexing cylinder IM and causes same to rotate back and forth whenever the operating stem 48' moves up and down. The

' lower portion of the indexing cylinder IOI is pro- It should be pointed out here that in its last downward stroke the indexing shaft did rotate sufiiciently to index the valve disc 32 into a position \it held before the sprinkling operation was manually started, that is, the opening 33 of the valve disc 32 comes to rest directly over the .port I! which connects with the first branch pipe 4..

The pin 21 which engages the grOOVe 24 of the indexing shaft 23 has just entered the lower part of the straight portion 26. The above-described position of the indexing shaft 23 and the valve disc 32 is so held during the period the sprinkling system is not in operation. d

It is apparent from the foregoing description of the operation ofthe automatic sprinkling system that each branch pipe of the system will be supplied sequentially with pressure fluid, causing the sprinkler nozzles to operate. The time periods during which the sprinkler nozzles are in opera tion may be governed by the setting of the dial 92 as previously explained.

The dwell period, or the time interval elapsed between the operation of consecutive groups of For example: a portion of a lawn controlled by vided with ratchet teeth IIO (Fig. 17 and 18), there being as many of same as there are groups ofsprinkler nozzles. A plunger III provided with a' tooth H2 is mounted in a projection II3 of the indexing sleeve I04. A coil spring II4 presses the plunger III at. all times toward the indexing cylinder IOI, and a pin II5 fitting in the groove II6 keeps the plunger from rotating.

Radially extending from the lower end of the bore I05 are a number of passages II'I (Figs. 13 and 17), there ,being as many such passages as there are ratchet teeth in the indexing cylinder IOI. Connected with each of these passages III is a needle or timing valve 88' communicating with the inside of the housing 43' through the bore 81'. The needle valve stem 89' is mounted by means of the thread 90' in'the appendage 9| of the housing 43' and protrudes through the cover 44, where a pointer IIB'is pressed into same. The upper end of the needle valve stem 89' is knurled'in order to provide a better grip for the operators fingers. A series. of figures 93' and lines 94 are cast on the top surface of the with one of the passages II'I whenever any sprin-' kling is taking place.

The rest of the mechanism enclosed in the housing 43' is identical with the one previously described as being enclosed in the corresponding housing 43.

During the dwell period, that is, the time interval between sprinkling operations of adjacent groups of sprinkler nozzles, the float I I descends in the float chamber 39. A distance before it reaches the lowermost position the float II con-, tacts the screw 5| and pulls the operating stem 48' downward, causing the indexing cylinder IN to revolve in the direction indicated by'the arrow in Figures 15 and 18. This revolving motion is brought about by the helical groove I09 being guided .by the stationary dog screw I08. Since one of the ratchet teeth I I0 engages the tooth I I2 of the plunger III, the indexing sleeve I 04 also revolves with it (Fig. 18). and upon completion of the downward motion of the operating stem 2,368,832 I 48' the groove II9 comes to rest adjacent to the/ succeeding passage I I1. Water from the inside of the housing 43 may then flow through the needle or timing valve 88' which is connected with the Passage adjacent to the groove I I9 and empty into the float chamber 39. The sprinkling operation then following will therefore be timed .according to the setting of above-mentioned needle valve. As the float II approaches its top position and starts raising the operating stem 48', the indexingcylinder IOI revolves in a direction opposite to the one shown by arrow in Fig. 15, but this time it does not carry the indexing sleeve I04 with it, because the plunger IN is being pushed backwards by the action of the ratchet teeth IIll against the backside of the tooth II2.

Butas soon as the operating stem 48' descends again, the indexing sleeve I04 is once more rotioned in the housing d3 similarly as is pilot valve 9 in the same housing.

The'operation of these two modified units is' as follows: Normally, when the sprinkling system is not in operation, pressure fluid from the main 3 enters the mall bore I20 located in the. valve member 95'. The 'leak screw I2i inserted in the top of the enlarged portion I22 of the bore .I2Ii is shown in greatly enlarged form in Fig. 20.

The thread I23 formed on the outside of the leak screw i2l is not cut to its full depth, while the mating thread formed in the bore I22 is cut to full depth. lhis leaves a triangular-shaped helical groove I24 open to the passage of pressure fluid along the entire length the leak-screw I2I is engaged in its mating thread. The pressure fluid, therefore,.m'ay thus reach the chamber 98, and acting upon the large piston 97'- press same and the valve member 95' downward, and forcing the non-metallic insert I25 tightly against the valve seat I26.

Pressure fluid from the chamber 98' may also 7 pass through. the tubing I21 into the bore 53' of the pilot valve 9'. The bleeder port 51' is kept sealed by the action of the spring 'II' on the rocker arm 66' and ultimately on the valve member 55'. Full hydrostatic pressure is therefore maintained in the-chamber 98'.

The sprinkling operationis instituted as, de-

' scribed previously by moving the operating lever rate at which the pressure fluid may enter the chamber 98' through the helical groove is much slower than the rate at which it may leave said chamber through the bleederport 51'. Stated in another form: The resistance ofiered to the flow of pressure fluid through the helical groove I24 is many times greater than the resistance ofiered by the bleeder port 51' tosaid fiow. 'It follows then that assoon as the bleeder port 51 opens, the pressure in the chamber,98' is reduced to nearly atmospheric pressure, and the valve member 95 rises and permits pressure fluid from the I to pass into the distributor valve I3, thus starting the sprinkling operation.

During the entire period the sprinkling system is in operation, pressure fluid from the main I continues to pass through the bore I and into the housing 43.

tated. In this manner the time interval during By removing the capping screw I28 access is had tothe leak screw I2I and same ma be. adjusted in such-a manner that the length of the helical groove I24 is increased or decreased, thus decreasing or increasing the rate of how of pressure fluid into the housing 43.

It is proposed to use the needle valve 88 as shown in Fig. 12' in connection with the heredescribed modified construction, said needle valve functioning identically as previously described.

The leak screw I20 is originally adjusted such a manner that the rate of flow of water into. the housing 43' is at all times greater than the rate of'fiow through the needle valve 88. The excess water empties out of the housing 43 through the port I29. 7

At the end of each sprinkling cycle the valve member 55' returns to the position shown in Fig.

19, closing the bleeder port 58. Thus full hychamber 98 and the valve member 95 moves.

13 (not shown in Fig. 19) to the on position.

In so doing the rocker arm 66? is rotated in clockwise direction, thereby moving the valve member downward until it contactsthe screw I28 and opening the bleeder port 51' to the atmosphere.

It should be stated here that in this modified construction no control float I1 is used and the drostatic pressure is slowly reestablished in the downward and. closes the shut-off valve 2'.

It is obvious that while the above-described modified construction is simpler in that it eliminates the control float TI and the tubing 6 (Fig. 1), it results in a wastage of water, namely the water that passes through the port I29. In the majority of installations, however, this is not objectionable. 1

Attention is called to the fact that the means for timing the sprinkling periods consists of releasing water of very low head or pressure permits a much larger orifice or opening than would be possible if water were to be released, as is sometimes done in similar devices, at the pressure existing in the water main. A larger orifice is not afiected by corrosion or by minute dirt particlesto the extent that-a smaller orifice through an adjustable orifice. This low pressure would be. The timing is consequently more 9.0-

curate. v

All such changes, modifications; andadaptations as come within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a system for sequential release of pressure fluid: a. supply valve in communication with a source of pressure fluid; a distributor valve comprising a chamber in communication with said supply valve and provided with'a plurality of service-outlets; a rotary member within said chamber constructedand arranged on rotation to sequentially establishhommunication between said service outlets and said chamber; indexing means within said chamber for actuating the rotary member each time said supply valve closes to a position establishing communication bechamber and a plurality of service outlets; a conduit communicating said chamber with a source of pressure fluid, a supply valve in said conduit biased to open position by pressure in the con- ,duit, said valveincluding a valve member connected to an actuating piston enclosed in a pressure chamber in which pressure acts on the piston to hold the valve closed, a manually adjustable restricted orifice carried by the movable valve member and communicating the source of pressure fluid with said chamber; a rotary member within the chamber of the distributor valve, said rotary member being constructed and arranged on rotation to sequentially establish communication between said service outlets and said chamber; indexingmeanswithin'said chamber for actuating the rotary member each time said supply valve closes to a position establishing communication between said chamber and the next service outlet of the sequence; and control means includinga float chamber, a timing float operablein said float chamber, a storage compartment in communication with said float chamber and a control valve having a first position establishing communication between the pressure chamber and the storage compartment effectiveto bleed the pressure from said pressure chainber and a second position interrupting said communication, said control valve being moved to said second position when thefloat is raised to a predetermined level and moved to its first po-' sition on lowering of the float; an adjustable timing valve between said storage compartment and said float chamber, and a check valve permitting pressure fluid within said float chamber to be discharged wheneversaid supply valve is closed. a

3. In a system for sequential release of pressure fluid: 'a distributor valve. comprising a chamber and a plurality of service outlets; a

conduit communicating said chamber with the source of pressure fluid, a supply valve in said conduit; a rotary member within the chamber of said distributor .valve, said rotary member being constructed and arranged on rotation to sequentially establish communication between said service outlets and said chamber,- a cylinder in sure fluid: a distributor valve comprising .a chamber and a plurality of service outlets, a conduit communicating said chamber with a source of pressure fluid, a supply valve provided, with hydraulic operating means in said conduit; a rotary member. and a; piston within said distributor valve chamber, saidpiston being arranged to be operated in one direction by pressure fluid within said chamber resulting from the opening of said supply valve and biased in the opposite direction by a spring, means actuated by movement of the piston in the opposite direction for indexing said rotary member each time said supply valve closes to a position establishing communication between said chamber and the next service outlet of the sequence; and control means associated with said source of pressure fluid and with said hydraulic operating means for periodically opening and closing said supply valve to permit pressure fluid to flow from said source to said distributor valve chamber and to said service outlets.

'5, In a system for sequential release of pressure fluid: 'a distributor ,valve comprising a chamber and a group of service outlets; a conduit communicating said chamber witha source ,position establishing communication between source to said distributor valve chamber; and

said chamber and the next service outlet of said group; a control valve associated with-said supply valve for opening and closing said supply valve to permit pressure fluid to flow from said hydraulic actuating and hydraulic timing means for periodically operating said control valve.

'6. In a system for sequential release of pressure fluid: a distributor valve comprising a chamber and a plurality of service outlets; a conduit communicating said chamberwith'a source of pressure fluid, a supply valve in said conduit biased to open position by pressure in the conduit, said valve including a valve member con nected to an actuating piston enclosed in a pres sure chamber in which pressure acts on the pissaid chamber, a piston in saidcylinder arranged to be moved inone direction by pressure in said chamber. spring means biasing the piston in the opposite irection, saidspring means being inof the piston by pressure in the chamber due to opening of-the capable of preventing movement tion between said service outlets and said cham- I ber; indexing means within said chamber for actuating said rotary membereach time said supply valve closes to a position establishing communication between said chamber and the next service outlet of the sequence; and control means including a float chamber, a timing float'operable in said float chamber, a storage compartment in communication with said float chamber and a control valve having a first position establishing communication between the gpressure chamber and the storage compartment trol means including a control valve and a float I .chamber, a timing float operable within said float chamber and arranged to actuate said con- 'trol valve to controlthe opening and closing I eflective to bleed the pressure from said pressure chamber and a second position establishing communication between the pressure chamber and the source of pressure fluid, said control valve being moved to said second position when the float is raised to'a predetermined level and moved to-its'flrst position on lowering of the float; an adjustable timing valvebetween said storage compartment and said float chamber, and a check valve permitting pressure fluid within said float chamber to be discharged whenever said supply valve is closed; said supply valve being adapted to close when said pressure chamber is in communication with said source of pressure fluid, and to open when said pressure chamber is in communication with said storage compartment and thereby permitting pressure fluid to flow from aid source to said distributor valve chamber 7. In a system for sequential release of pressure fluid: a supply valve in communication with a source of pressure fluid and provided with hydraulic operating means, a distributor valve comprising a chamber in communication with said supply valve and provided with a p y of service outlets, a rotary member within said chamber, constructed and arranged on rotation for sequentially establishing communication be-.

tween said service outlets and said chamber, in-

dexing means within said chamber constructed and arranged to actuate said rotary member each time said supply valve closes to a position establishing communication between said chamber and the next service outlet of the sequence,

and control means including afloat chamber, a timing float operable within said float chamber, a storage compartment, a control valve constructed and arranged to be actuated by said timing float to establish communication between either said source of pressure fluid and said hydraulic operating means or between said hydraulic operating means and said storage compartment, an adjustable timing valve, permitting fluid from said storage compartment to enter said float chamber and to elevate said timing .float,- and to actuate said control valve to estween said service outlets and said chamber, in-

dexing means within said chamber constructed and arranged to actuate said rotary member each time said supply valve closes to a position es-'- tablishing communication between said-chamber and the next service valve'of the sequence; and control mean includingastorage compartment, a control float within the latter, a float chamber, a timing float operable within said float chamber, an adjustable timing valve constructed to establish communication between .said storage compartment and said float chamber, a control valve positioned partly by said timing float and partly by said control float, the latter being constructed and arranged to establish com,- munication between said hydraulic operating means and either said source of pressure fluid or said storage compartment, said control float being arranged to govern the flow oi pressure fluid from the source of fluid supply to said storage compartment and thereby maintaining a definite fluid level in said storage compartment when the system is in operation, said supply valve closing whenever full communication between said hydraulic operating means andthe source of pressure fluid is established and open-.

' ing whenever communication between said hytion with said storage compartment or' with said for sequentially establishing communication bedraulic operating means and said storage, compartment is established, and thereby permitting pressure fluid to flow from said source to said distributor valve chamber.

'9. In a system for sequentialrelease of pressure fluid: a distributor valve comprising a chamber and a pluralit of service outlets, a conduit communicating said chamber with a source of pressure fluid, a supply valve in said conduit; a, rotary member and a cylinder within said chamber, a piston and a spring within said cylinder, said piston being arranged to be actuated in one direction by the presence of pressure fluid in said chamber due to the opening of the supply valve and biased in the opposite direction by said spring means, means actuated by movement of said piston in the opposite direction for indexing said rotary member each time said supply valve closes, to a position establishing communication between said chamber and the next service outlet of the sequence; and -a control valve associated with said supply valve for .opening'and closing said supply valve to permit pressure fluid to flow from said source to said distributor valve chamber; and hydraulic actuating means for periodically-operating said control valve, and adjust-'- able hydraulic timing means: for controlling the i FRED HAUSER. 

